Powell River seeks to export electricity

Summary#

Powell River Energy Inc. applied to the Canada Energy Regulator to export up to 1 000 000 MWh of combined firm and interruptible electricity each year for 10 years from British Columbia. The Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator is asking for public comments before it decides whether to issue a permit or move the application to a licensing process.

What it does#

• Asks permission to export up to 1 000 000 MWh per year of electricity (a mix of firm and interruptible supply) for 10 years from British Columbia.
• Frames the request under Division 2 of Part 7 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act.
• Notes that the applicant (or its affiliates) has interests in generation or transmission in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec.
• Invites written input from anyone with views on the application. Written submissions must be filed and emailed to the applicant by 31 January 2022. Any response from the applicant to those submissions must be filed by 4 February 2022.
• Says the application is available on the CER website and that the applicant will email a copy to anyone who requests it (contact provided in the original notice).

Who's affected#

• Powell River Energy Inc. (the company asking to export power) and its affiliates.
• Electricity buyers and market participants who have declared interest in buying electricity for use in Canada.
• Provincial regulators, utilities and electricity consumers in provinces other than British Columbia (the Commission specifically asks about possible effects on other provinces).
• The general public and any organization that wants to comment during the stated comment period.

Why it matters#

• Cross‑border exports can affect how much power stays available inside Canada and may influence market conditions in other provinces. The regulator is asking for views to check for those effects.
• The review gives Canadian buyers and provinces a chance to say whether they were given a fair opportunity to buy this power instead of it being exported.
• This is a request for comment, not a final decision. The outcome could change who gets access to electricity and under what conditions.